Ronald Acuña Jr. hit two home runs—including one aided by a bizarre outfield collision—and Matt Olson added his 32nd blast as the Atlanta Braves defeated the Miami Marlins 11-3 on Thursday night at Truist Park to complete a three-game sweep and extend their winning streak to eight games.
The Atlanta Braves continued their blistering run through the summer by routing the Miami Marlins 11-3 on Thursday night, locking down a dominant three-game sweep at Truist Park.
Outfield Chaos and a Wacky Third-Inning Home Run
The defining moment of the rain-delayed contest arrived in the third inning off Miami pitcher Janson Junk. With Acuña at the plate, Marlins left fielder Heriberto Hernández and center fielder Esteury Ruiz collided near the wall in left-center field, their gloves overlapping as they crashed into one another. As Hernández searched frantically for the ball, Acuña paused briefly at first base, realizing neither defender immediately understood that the deflection had carried the ball over the fence for a remarkably unconventional home run.
That bizarre play set the tone for an explosive night of offense that saw Atlanta cruise past their division rivals. Olson added his 32nd home run of the season in the sixth inning against left-hander John King, sparking a crucial four-run frame. Acuña capped his multi-homer performance with his 11th shot of the year in the eighth inning.
Pitching Depth and Managerial Persuasion
Despite a weather delay that forced a stoppage of 1 hour and 24 minutes, Atlanta’s pitching staff held firm. Left-hander Martín Pérez started the game by tossing three scoreless innings, giving up zero hits and walking just one batter. Five relievers followed, with Víctor Mederos earning his second win of the year as the pitching corps limited Miami to seven total hits.
Off the field, manager Walt Weiss had to do some light convincing to manage his lineup. Ozzie Albies, who had started the team’s first 114 games at second base, was initially slated for a rare rest before taking over as the designated hitter in the sixth inning. Weiss admitted that the star infielder did not welcome the breather at first.
“After he crossed my name off his Christmas list, he was all right. I had to talk him into it.”
Walt Weiss, Braves manager
Stepping into the lineup in Albies’ usual defensive spot, Mauricio Dubón notched four hits and drove in two runs in his first start of the season at second base. Michael Harris II chipped in with three hits, including a pair of doubles.
Standings and the Road Ahead to New York
With the victory, the Braves improved their record to 70-45, firmly holding an 8.5-game lead over the second-place Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East. Meanwhile, Miami dropped to 58-58, sitting four games behind Philadelphia in third place.
The surging Braves now pack their bags for a challenging road trip, heading north for a three-game series against the American League’s New York Yankees, who hold a 64-51 record. Friday’s series opener brings a fascinating pitching matchup: newly acquired right-hander Tyler Mahle is scheduled to make his Braves debut after joining the club in a trade with the San Francisco Giants. He will square off against former Braves left-hander Max Fried, who spent his first eight major league seasons in Atlanta and helped capture the franchise’s most recent World Series title in 2021 before joining the Yankees. Meanwhile, the Marlins return home to open a series against the Los Angeles Angels, with right-hander Tyler Phillips slated to take the mound.
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